So….this one is a little bit of an adjusting chapter I guess, but not really….too sad lol
CHAPTER TWELVE: LIFE
Artham dodged Rudric’s swing, and made one of his own. Artham’s made its mark on Rudric’s arm. Rudric yelped, and then rubbed his arm, and Guildmaster Stub declared Artham the victor.
Artham doused his face in water, happy that their class was nearly over, and the last section of class would be just watching.
He plopped down on the grass and ran his fingers through his hair.
He had felt much better after reading Arundelle’s letter, even if one of them had made him blush and Esben started teasing him. And now he even felt better about living with the Keeper. Perhaps that was all thanks to Arundelle, and Artham blushed when Esben teased him.
Though he couldn’t help but walk around with a smile on his face…….even if he felt this terrible ache he kept suppressing. “But it doesn’t matter,” he would say to himself.
Emerald had turned eleven, with a happy clear At ion that the Keeper put on for his special charge. Arundelle had turned fourteen, and Artham had tried to write something nice for her, but the words kept falling apart.
Wendolyn was there through his attempts, and she saw him struggling to write something.
“Artham what are you doing?”
Artham flushed. “Um, just…something for my friend’s birthday.”
“Oh.” Wendolyn had a queer smile on her face.
When she was saying goodbye, she whispered in Artham’s ear before kissing him, “Girls like poetry.”
He sort of smiled, but he still found himself staring at a blank page. And then, after doing so for an hour, he got up and went to the library.
He saw the Head Librarian, Mrs. Bookright, and she sent him in the direction of poetry books. He had always found poetry boring, but now, he had a better motivation for reading it.
He found a small book, checked it out, and took it back to the Keeper’s house.
He studied it for an hour, then tried to write some. He was pretty pleased with his result.
On your birthday day
I hope it’s full of joy.
I know it’s bright today
And I hope you know it’s no ploy,
That I wish you this from the bottom of my heart,
Even if we are an ocean apart.
He then decided to quickly slip it in his letter and mail it before he chickened out.
The letter she wrote in response showed she loved the poem, and it filled Artham’s heart.
Then he found Esben’s birthday rolling around. And he smiled when he came up with a present idea….and remembered something very important.
“So, Horus,” Esben said, looking at the Keeper, “I have a question.”
“Yes lad?”
“I have something I’ve been wanting for my birthday, and I thought, since it’s coming up, I could ask.”
The Keeper looked at him with a smile. “What?”
“I would like to go sailing on my own.”
Artham raised his brows while he took a drink of his juice, but said nothing.
“I’ve done really well in my Sailery Guild, so I thought, maybe?”
The Keeper leaned back in his chair, with a smirk, which turned into a smile, and then a laugh.
“Well, it’s fine with me. I’ll make arrangements with your Guildmaster for some sailing in the Watercraw.”
Esben’s eyes lit up, but then he looked at his brother. He knew none of it would happen unless Artham agreed.
To his immediate relief, Artham smiled at him, and looked down at his breakfast plate.
Esben smiled again. “I will be extra careful, I promise!”
The week before his birthday seemed to drag on, but Esben was happy the whole week. And when the day did come, it was filled with more pleasures than sailing.
Emerald gave him a birthday card and a chain for around his neck. Artham gave him a journal, a beautiful, leather bound one, as well as some drawing pencils. But Esben could see there was more than pleasure in his brother’s eyes…..there was a fair bit of mischief.
Then the moment came. The sailing! The boat was called the Enramere, and Esben couldn’t wait. As soon as he got on it, he felt a strange feeling. A sensation of home. It reminded him of his father.
As the boat sped along, Esben helping steer every now and then, he decided to look at his journal. But in the journal was the point of Artham’s mischief. But it wasn’t mischief. It was the nicest thing Artham could have given him. Where he came by it, Esben didn’t know, nor did he care.
It was a letter. From his father. To him.
He tore the envelope to shreds, leaving paper scattered at his feet, and he poured over the letter eagerly.
I do not know exactly what was in that letter, but I know it made Esben’s eyes water, and his whole heart fill with glee. It made him feel full.
So full that now he understood why Artham gave him the journal..and he saw within the journal a note from Artham.
Happy birthday little brother! I hope you liked my gifts. The reason I only now gave you the letter was because papa asked me to wait till your twelfth birthday. And the reason I give you the journal is because I think you should start, not only drawing, but writing in your journal. I know you hate it, but it might do you good……might help relieve emotions. Anyway, happy birthday.
Esben felt warm and loved, from all angles. And so he settled down, sketched, and then wrote.
Maybe one day when I have a kid, he can read this, Esben thought.
That night, the Helmers came over for dinner.
“Well, how’s it goin’ in tha Keeper’s ‘ouse?” Podo asked Artham.
“Very well,” Artham said quietly, not looking him in the eye.
“The children all behave grandly,” Horus said smiling broadly.
“How are you feelin’, Esben? Being twelve an all.” Podo asked, still eyeing Artham.
Esben grinned. “It’s been great! I even went sailing all by myself today!”
“By yourself?” Wendolyn asked.
“Oh yes,” Emerald said. “Esben was very assumptiative about it.”
Wendolyn looked confused, and looked towards another adult for an answer, but they were all just as confused.
“Assertive,” Artham corrected.
Everyone laughed at that, even Emerald.
“I just try to use the big words Arthie uses,” she said giggling.
Nia raised her brows at the nickname, shooting Artham one of her infamous glares, but the two moms said “awe!”
Artham looked back at Nia. She was still treating him weird. He wished he could figure out why.
The rest of the evening was spent in the living room, where Wendolyn sat next to Artham.
When Podo and Horus were engaged in talk, Esben and Rudric shooting marbles, Nia and Emerald playing, and Meerida cleaning the kitchen, Wendolyn started talking with Artham quietly.
“How are you, doll?”
“I’m fine…better than I have been, at least…sort of.”
Wendolyn looked at Artham with concern, but said nothing. “Have you and Arundelle been corresponding?”
“Yes. A bit.”
“A lot a bit from the look on your face.”
Artham laughed. He felt so comfortable talking with Wendolyn, more than he had ever felt talking with anyone else…..except his mother.
But he did feel comfortable, so he dared ask a question. One that had been on his mind for days.
“Wendolyn, could I ask you a question?”
“Of course love, anything.”
“Why does Nia…act so strangely towards me?”
Wendolyn pursed her lips. “You know, love. I think you should ask her that.”
Artham nodded. He was more than ready to get the answer as to why Nia gave him glares and was so cold towards him. He was quite ready to find out.
Okay, this one actually had some fluff! 😃
And less emergency hugs lol.
I hope you like!